The Newtown bee., 1887-12-30
Our New York Letter.

This age is altogether too materialistic. l Even Nature has joined in the prevailing fashion. One by one the old landmarks are swept away and soon we shall have nothing by which to guide oar course. Christmas was formerly white day. The ground was covered with clinging man. tie ot the purest snow; the frozen ponds, glistening in the sunlight, were crowded with eager pleasure seekers and the tall, spectral trees were decked with myriads of icicles.
 Now. what change. Some snow we have had; but it soon disappeared or else gave way to an indescribable compound called sIush. The ice forms only in thin layers; the ponds are still unsafe. The merry school boy, on pleasure bent, longs in vain for those healthy outdoor sports which were once so marked feature of this iovial season. Old Sol, thinking he is still in the midst of Summer, sends down his rays with unbecoming ardor; while Jack Frost, the friend and benefactor of childhood, keeps himself in unwonted se- clusion.
 One change brings about another. San- ia Claus, no longer able to use hIs rein deers and sled, has yielded gracefully to the march of progress. He now makes his appearance in an unpoetic horse car
 
 chimneys have also caused him world of trouble. As we all know, on the author ity of numerous poems and fairy tales, the venerable gentleman Is of portly build. He is rather below the ordinary stature, but he makes up in width what he lacks in l height. Unable to force himself through | the crooked hues and narrow grates, he is obliged, much against his will, to ring the front door bell, as if he were of no more | importance than common messenger. 1 This is shockingly open and unromantic. It is mere trifie, however, in comparison with the danger that now threatens us. 1 A cruel iconoclast, one of those disa- greeable personages who are forever de- stroying our most cherished images, has assailed the very existence of Santa Claus. In his opinion, the ruddy-visaged silver | haired saint, whose garments and whisk- CTS are powdered with snow, is nothing but myth. He has even gone further, stating that the belief in this fabulous be- ing is direct injury to the morals of the community. In speaking of Santa Claus we tell deliberate lie. We thereby en- courage falsehood. The youthful mind, impressionable as wax, receives an inef- faceable stamp. If deception is tolerated at one time, why not at others?
 The reverend gentleman, who has start ed this discussion, is undoubtedly sincere and actuated by the best of motives Let us see whether there is really any fear of the danger he apprehends. Imagination plays prominent part in our daily life. Rob us of this and the dull routine of cares would be stupid indeed. On read ing a novel. we laugh or cry, rejoice or grieve, over the fortunes of the people therein described, taking as lively an in- terest in their affairs as If they were gem uine actors on the stage of life. So far 1 from being true representatives of man kind, they are frequently the products of the authors brain, utterlng sentiments and performing deeds which are utterly at variance with the ordinary conduct of frail humanity. Does it niure us to study these characters? No! their moral pre- cepts are often positive benefit. Those books, on the other hand, which, holding the mirror up to Nature, show man in his worst, most repulsive light, are fearfully pernicious in their effects. Whatever is forbidden as sin has peculiar fasclna- tion. To represent crime in brilliant but faithful colors is to give powerful stimu- lus to this feeling. We must therefor e conclude that in many cases a literal tram script of life is much more injurious than the glowing pictures of the imagination.
 Santa Claus, that generous visitor whose basket is full to overfowing with Christ mas tidings, brings joy alike to parent and child Harmless fiction that he is, he graifies an unsuitable craving for the mar vicious. Without some such vent, the mind would be driven back upon itself. It would either rust from inaction, lacking the proper spring and buoyancy of youth, or Ca result to be avoided if possible) cen- Ire it's attention upon the horrible realism F4l1. .1 +. In,, of gifts has long been source of innocent pleasure. Let him continue his useful ca. reer.
 l The Russian peasants have myth very closely resembling our Santa Claus This beneficent being is called Baboushka which means, when literally translated, al old woman. She 1t is who fills the stock ings on Christmas eve. Her kind heart is ever suggesting some attractive gift anc her nimble fingers are always at work t. please the childish fancy. The popular name is well chosen. for, according to tht ], ancient legend, Baboushka, first saw the light in Palestine more than 1900 years ago. Of her childhood We have no record but on reaching maturity she became re nowned as a most industrious and tidy housewife. This disposition, commend able in itself, was afterward the cause O | RFlcFOuS IuiSloEtuue. Oue udJ, "uiie dusting and cleaning with even greatel care than usual, she was startled by { l loud noise. Looking up. she saw nun Der of persons standing before the house , Among them were the three wise men wht , had journeyed from the East i'll search 0 the Christ-chiid
 Come, they said, smiling pleasant, upon her, wont you help us in ou search?"
 'Wait moment, she answered. "Le me first put my house in order and then , will join you
 The wise men passed on. When Ba . bonshka was ready to follow they wer nowhere to be seen. From that day t this she has pursued her unayailing quest
 Preserved by some miraculous power. sh
 is still hunting through every corner Q the earth for the wondrous child. Flo f His sake and in the hope that she may Ye , find Him among these little ones, sh ? treats all children with unfailing kind 2 ness Fl F. M. Burr.
 ] New York, December 26, 1887